Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has once again issued a warning to Israel, saying that the “Zionist enemy” has made a grave mistake and is being “punished right now.” His comments were posted just one day after the United States launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. However, notably, Khamenei made no reference to the US attacks in his statement.
“The punishment continues. The Zionist enemy has made a big mistake, committed a big crime; it must be punished and it is being punished; it is being punished right now,” the post read.The strikes, which hit Iran’s nuclear sites at Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz, were carried out by American B-2 stealth bombers using 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs.
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Satellite imagery analysed after the attack revealed a crater above Natanz’s underground enrichment site, suggesting that the damage reached below hardened concrete defences. The US operation, officials said, was designed to take advantage of unique American capabilities to penetrate Iran’s deeply buried facilities.
‘Iran will decide timing, nature and scale of response’
However, since the strikes the rhetoric from Iran has been of ‘propotionate’ response to the US attack. Iranian officials have vowed to retaliate and warned that US bases in the region could become legitimate targets. Iran has accused the United States of destroying diplomacy with its strikes saying that the Iranian military will determine the “timing, nature and scale of Iran’s proportionate response”. Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Sunday, Iran’s UN Ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, said: “Iran had repeatedly warned the warmongering US regime to refrain from stumbling into this quagmire.”
He added, “We will take all measures necessary,” and labelled the strikes a “clear and flagrant breach of international law”. Iravani also blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for influencing US President Donald Trump into “dragging the United States into yet another costly and baseless war” and doing the West’s “dirty work”.The envoy said that even as Iran’s foreign minister engaged with European officials, “the United States decided to destroy that diplomacy.” He asked, “What conclusion can be drawn from this situation?” and echoed the foreign minister’s remark: “how can Iran return to something it never left — let alone”.Trump further defended the operation against domestic criticism, responding to Representative Thomas Massie by saying, “We had a spectacular military success yesterday, taking the ‘bomb’ right out of their hands (and they would use it if they could!).”* He also said that Massie is “not MAGA,” distancing himself from the Kentucky congressman’s calls for Congressional authorisation.Trump also hinted at possible regime change, posting, “If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”Meanwhile, Israel continues its offensive, saying its objectives, eliminating Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, are nearly achieved.
